Safety pin attachment



Feb. 18, 1958 w. KARALUS 2,823,436

SAFETY PIN ATTACHMENT Filed Oct 26, 1955 Fig./

Lew W. Kara/us IN VEN TOR.

401M Em United States Patent I 2,823,436 SAFETY rust ATTACHMENT Lew W; Karal'u's, Bridge ort, Conn. Application October 26, 1955 Serial No. 542,87t

4 claims.- '(Cl. '24 156) r: The present invention relates 1 to certainnew'and useful unprovem entsina-conventional-type"safety pin; havingga spring .co1l at one end and: a keeper-equipped guard at the .other end andin: which the adjacent end of the' coopcrating openable and closeable end of the pin proper: is releasably retai-ned; antl'thecomhination therewith of a safeguarding coverof an ornatecharaeter which; g'er'i erally speaking, takes the form of an elongated'elastic strip which has a reverse side against which one side of the safetypin isfl'eId-flritwis More specifically, the concept has to do-with'the safety'pin and' cover guard in combination with each other and wherein the area. of the {elastic stripis'such'that the*marginalledges project outyvajrtllyj beyond"the"corresponding marginal portions .of the sajfety,1pinirr "a nranner to" concealthe safety pin. More important, the *strip'is provided on the .reversetor inward side and at its opposite ends' with outstandin longitudinally spacedelastio'poeket's. These have mouth portions which openatoward acli-otlier'and the cooperating end port-ions of the safety pin project'into the pockets 'and' ar e fodg'ed therein and grippingly held and the pocket themselves provide shoulders which are adapted to abut cooperating portions of the garment through which the pin is passed so as to minimize endwise slippage of the thus covered pin.

In carrying out the invention the cover is specifically such in construction that it does not have to be taken off in order to use the pin. The cover is designed so that the pin can be replaced with another and new safety pin in such instances as the point of the pin has become dulled or bent by constant use, this being a feature not found, it is believed, in any ornamental safety pin cover by itself or in conjunction with the safety pin. In fact, only one end of the pin has to be disengaged to facilitate its use. With the cover left on the pin at all times there is added gripping area to enable one to hold the pin more efiectually when applying it and bringing it into use. It is also a matter of significance to observe that the cover and pin provide what is in effect a novelly improved safety pin possessed of unique style and safety combined.

Although the concept has to do primarily with diaper pinning needs in that it always remains flat, is prevented from sliding endwise and virtually minimizes rotation, it has many other advantages as will be hereinafter set forth.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a safety pin attachment of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, durable, compact, of light weight, highly efficient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a safety pin at i 2,823,435 Patented Feb. 18', 1 9 53 2 tachment constructed in accordance with the present in vention;

Figure 2is a front elevational view,-showingthe device applied to a safety pin;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of'Figure 2'; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodimentof. the invention which has been illustrated in Figures-l, 2 andl3 of said drawing comprises a strips of resilient rubber. As.illustrated,to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing, the resilient strip 5 has-the general. outline or shape and dimensions of a conventional safety pin, as indicatedat 6..

Formed integrally. with the end portionsof the resilient strip 5', on one side thereof, is a.pair of.opposed,.inwardly opening pockets.7.. The pockets] are for the reception of. the end-portions ofithe closedsafety pin.6..

- It". is? thought thatthe. use ofthe attachment will be readily apparentfroma consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the safety pin 6 closed, thevresilient strip 5 is stretched-toengagethepockets. 7. over the end portions vof said .safety pin... Thus, the safety pinis positively prevented from.accidntallybpeningby the pocket on the forward end 'ofisaid. piinv .Whenthe attachment or cover is in position on ,thes'afety pi-n,.,the .resilientrstrip 5 is taut .also beplaced on..saf ety pins. which are not:in. use to prevent said pins from being. opened or. swallowedmby infants.- i

i In the embodiment of'thev invention illustrated Figure4 of'the dr'awing, reference character 8' designates a resilient rubber strip which tapers from its ends towards its center, said strip having substantially the shape and appearance of a bow tie. Formed integrally with the end portions of the resilient strip 8 on one side or the back thereof and spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges and the ends of said strip is a pair of spaced, opposed, inwardly opening and substantially flat, resilient pockets 9. The pockets 9 are for the reception of the end portions of a closed safety pin. As will be readily apparent, when the ornamental device of Figure 4 of the drawing is applied to a closed safety pin which is in use, the protruding longitudinal marginal side and end portions of the substantially bow tie-shaped strip 8 will overlie and substantially conceal said pin from view.

The common or ordinary safety pin 6 in and of itself is highly advantageous in that it is quick and simple to attach and fasten materials. Nevertheless it is very easily opened and this often results accidentally in causing physical injury to babies and adults. Also the pin, as a general thing, is unsightly to all users and many makeshift eiforts are followed to camouflage pins. Not only this, it does not stay in one position but shifts from one end to the other causing the two pierced holes to gradually enlarge. Safety pins with guarded heads have been offered but are possessed of the same disadvantages known to users of safety pins.

By way of contrast the ornamentally covered and guarded safety pin herein disclosed will reduce to a minimum the likelihood of the pin opening accidentally. Even if accidentally opened it will remain inside the cover reducing the likelihood of injury to a minimum. With the form of cover seen in Fig. 4 on the safety pin as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 instead of having an unsightly safety pin the resultant combination is a decorative pin. With this improvement the pin is always left covered and only the open end of the pin is disengaged. The jacket or cover is left on at all times so that the pin is always stabilized and will always be centered on the material. Because of the elasticity of the cover the pin can be removed and replaced with a fresh or new safety pin whenever the old one has become dull from use. As herein covered there is little or no likelihood of the unwarychild swallowing the pin. Because of the jacket construction the back area of the cuff can be used for identification assuring mothers added protection for their children and the cover completely hides the exposed edges of the safety pin. The front side of the pin can be used for any ornamental design, insignia name or emblem. The pin will not rotate as the common safety pin or plastic headed pins will but will remain fiat on the material at all times.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An ornamental safety pin attachment comprising: an elastic strip of an area to substantially cover and shield a safety pin, said strip being tapered from its ends toward its center and having the appearance of a bow tie, and a pair of longitudinally spaced, opposed, inwardly opening and substantially flat, resilient pockets formed integrally on the reverse side of said strip for protective reception and guarded retention of the end portions of the closed safety pin, the longitudinal marginal and end portions ofthe strip extending beyond the corresponding marginal portions of said pockets, the elasticity of said strip, when applied to said safety pin, serving to retain said end portions in said pockets and thus preventing the safety pin from opening accidentally. v

2. As a new product of manufacture, in combination, a conventional-type safety pin having a spring coil at one end and a keeper-equipped guard at the other end in which the adjacent end of the openable and closable end of the pin proper is releasably retained, and an ornate holder and safeguarding cover for said safety pin comprising a one-piece elongated elastic strip having a flat reverse side against which one side of said safety pin is held flatwise, the area of said strip being such that the marginal edges of the strip project outwardly beyond the corresponding marginal portions of the over-all safety pin and thus serving to conceal the safety pin, said strip being provided on said reverse side and at its opposite end portions with a pair of outstanding coplanar longitudinally spaced elastic pockets having mouth portions opening toward each other and the cooperating end portions of said safety pin projecting into and being lodged and grippingly held in their respective pockets.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein the mouth portions of the respective pockets are disposed at right angles to the axis of said strip and constitute shoulders projecting laterally from said reverse side, said shoulders being adapted to abut adjacent cooperating portions of the garment through which the pin is passed, whereby to thus minimize endwise slippage of the covered pin.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein said strip is of predetermined marginal delineation and ornamental appearance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 144,177 Williams Oct. 28, 1873 861,764 Pritchard July 30, 1907 1,786,271 Stonebraker Dec. 23, 1930 1,929,338 Tichenor Oct. 3, 1933 2,336,103 Lane Dec. 7, 1943 2,466,131 Taborski Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,106,081 France 

